Budget TV signal strength meter
 

At 11:19:29 Wed, 27 Jan 2010, Ian Jackson
mon.co.uk wrote in article :
In message , Terry Casey
writes
Ian Jackson wrote:

http://www.beststuff.co.uk/coaxial_accessories.htm

... F socket/coaxial socket gender changer ... (they obviously know
some very strange females!

They look to me like 'species changer, same gender'.

Because both ends are the same sex, this effectively converts a male
coax plug into a female F-socket - hence 'gender changer'.

In fairness to Ian, the variable attenuator could be useful in the
context of this thread (but I'd never have got that far down the page,
myself!)

Hey, there's lots of good stuff there!

Towards the end of the page is the Labgear-branded version of the Philex
"DVB-T finder" kit, which includes a coax/F-plug adapter. The F-plug
end is male and the coax end is female. Technically this isn't a gender
changer but it is bisexual.

John L

Budget TV signal strength meter
 

In message , John Legon
writes
Ian Jackson wrote:


http://www.beststuff.co.uk/coaxial_accessories.htm

... F socket/coaxial socket gender changer ... (they obviously know
some very strange females!

They look to me like 'species changer, same gender'.

Because both ends are the same sex, this effectively converts a male
coax plug into a female F-socket - hence 'gender changer'.

Do they? Take the "F plug/coaxial socket gender changer". It converts a
female F (say, a typical bulkhead connector) to a B&L female. Is that a
'gender changer'?

In fairness to Ian, the variable attenuator could be useful in the
context of this thread (but I'd never have got that far down the page,
myself!)

Hey, there's lots of good stuff there!

Towards the end of the page is the Labgear-branded version of the Philex
"DVB-T finder" kit, which includes a coax/F-plug adapter.

I don't see any mention of an adapter. It has, of course, got two F
female connectors. When you're finished doing the alignment, you'll need
a female-female barrel to join the cables. In a way, THAT's a gender
changer.

The F-plug
end is male and the coax end is female. Technically this isn't a gender
changer but it is bisexual.

It's not really bisexual. Both connectors are female. We know a word for
that sort of thing, don't we!
--
Ian

Budget TV signal strength meter
 

"Ian Jackson" wrote in message
...
In message , John Legon
writes
Ian Jackson wrote:

http://www.beststuff.co.uk/coaxial_accessories.htm

... F socket/coaxial socket gender changer ... (they obviously know
some very strange females!

They look to me like 'species changer, same gender'.

Because both ends are the same sex, this effectively converts a male
coax plug into a female F-socket - hence 'gender changer'.

Do they? Take the "F plug/coaxial socket gender changer". It converts a
female F (say, a typical bulkhead connector) to a B&L female. Is that a
'gender changer'?

No, I would call that an adapter or "species changer". I was referring
specifically to the above "F socket/coaxial socket" which is female at both
ends. Attach one end to a male plug and the other end gives you a female
socket = change of gender.


In fairness to Ian, the variable attenuator could be useful in the
context of this thread (but I'd never have got that far down the page,
myself!)

Hey, there's lots of good stuff there!

Towards the end of the page is the Labgear-branded version of the Philex
"DVB-T finder" kit, which includes a coax/F-plug adapter.

I don't see any mention of an adapter.

It's not mentioned on the web page, but I was sent two of these meters with
my satellite kit (believe it or not), and both came with coax-plug to F-plug
adaptors.

It has, of course, got two F
female connectors. When you're finished doing the alignment, you'll need
a female-female barrel to join the cables. In a way, THAT's a gender
changer.

Yes, that's what I would call a gender changer (in a way) - a simple coupler
with both ends the same sex.

I won't be doing any alignment with these meters, though, as the signal here
is barely sufficient to light the first LED. Variable attenuators? I
don't think so !!

The F-plug
end is male and the coax end is female. Technically this isn't a gender
changer but it is bisexual.

It's not really bisexual. Both connectors are female. We know a word for
that sort of thing, don't we!

One end is male and the other is female, with the adapters I'm talking about
!!

John L

Budget TV signal strength meter
 

At 16:48:38 Wed, 27 Jan 2010, John Legon wrote
Ian Jackson wrote:

http://www.beststuff.co.uk/coaxial_accessories.htm

Towards the end of the page is the Labgear-branded version of the Philex
"DVB-T finder" kit, which includes a coax/F-plug adapter.

I won't be doing any alignment with these meters, though, as the signal here
is barely sufficient to light the first LED.

Having said that, I went back into the loft and gave it a try. I got two
LEDs to light up by pointing the aerial about 20 degrees upwards and more
than 30 degrees away from the direction of the transmitter...

Moving things around, however, all four LEDs would light intermittently,
and they all stayed lit when I touched one or other terminal on the
masthead amplifier with a screwdriver. The amp is clearly going into
oscillation. I have mentioned before that the amp didn't work well in
cold weather, and I now think this may be due to instability caused by
the increased gain of the transistors at low temperatures.

--
John L